Telephone: 01473 836777
Fax: 01473 836778
Textphone: 01473 836779
Email enquiries@optua.org.uk
Telephone: 01473 836777
Fax: 01473 836778
Textphone: 01473 836779
Email enquiries@optua.org.uk
Optua celebrates UK Inspire Day!
Wednesday 16 May is UK Inspire Day and Optua is kicking off the summer of sporting celebration by reminding people of all the great work being done across the county to inspire disabled people to get involved in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Optua itself has three London 2012 Inspire Marks (see below). The third of these events is the RHS Optua Games being held at the Royal Hospital School next month but there are plenty of other opportunities which Optua and other organisations are organising for disabled people in Suffolk and many reasons to get excited:
You might also have noticed we've added a Paralympic Countdown timer to the front page of this website! The 2012 Inspire programme recognises and rewards exceptional, non-commercial projects inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It's an opportunity for everyone to be part of the Games - a broad participation programme spanning sport, education, culture, sustainability, volunteering and business opportunities. You can search for your nearest Inspire events at www.london2012.com/beinspired
It's a hat-trick! Optua has three 2012 Inspire Marks!
Optua has recently heard that we now have three official London 2012 Inspire Marks! The Inspire Mark is only given to the most accessible, participative, inspiring and stimulating projects and events which have been inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. Optua now has three as its Disability Sport Showcase Days were given the Inspire Mark in 2010.
Optua now has more disability sport related inspire marks than any other organisation in the UK (no-one else has more than one!). It also has the most of any non-local authority organisation in the East of England.
The two new inspire marks are for Optua's Share day in April and the RHS Optua Games sport day which takes place in June at the Royal Hospital School near Tattingstone. Optua's tenth Disability Sport Showcase took place in Lowestoft in March.
Joseph Ballard, London 2012 Inspire Programmer for the East of England, said: "Optua is a great example of an organisation that has really embraced the spirit and the Values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. With three projects all focused on profiling disability sports and more importantly about empowering people to 'be their best', they have developed a much-valued portfolio within the London 2012 Inspire Programme."
Our 2012 Young Games Makers have made it!
Optua is celebrating after the announcement that a group of six young people with disabilities from Suffolk have been successful in becoming official London 2012 Young Games Makers.
Optua enabled the young people to apply to the Games Maker programme to be official volunteers helping out during the 2012 Olympic Games. Optua staff then supported the group on a trip to London to meet the selection panel for an interview.
The group was one of only two teams of potential Young Games Makers from Suffolk to be selected for an interview. The group have already been told that they will be volunteering at Olympic football events at Wembley Stadium.
Over 240,000 people applied to be London 2012 Games Makers and only 2,000 people aged 16-18 are being selected for the Young Games Markers programme. Optua is looking for any individuals or businesses who might want to sponsor any of the young people to help with their travel costs to London from Suffolk. If you'd like to help please call Optua on 01473 836770.
New disability swimming sessions launched in Lowestoft
Optua is officially launching new Big Splash sessions for people with disabilities at the refurbished Lowestoft Leisure Centre from Friday 20th January.
The new sessions are being supported by funding from Suffolk County Council's Activities Unlimited project which was awarded to help Optua run more weekly swimming sessions across the county. The sessions will run every Friday from 1pm to 2pm.
Big Splash sessions already run at several locations across Suffolk. For more information please click here or call 01473 836770.
Disability Sport DVD now available
Optua has launched a new DVD to inspire people with disabilities to get into sport in Suffolk.
The Be Your Best DVD contains a snapshot of the many disability sports clubs and opportunities in the county and has been produced by a partnership of Suffolk County Council, Optua and Suffolk Sport.
The DVD shows footage from some of the wide variety of fantastic disability sport clubs across the county including the sailing, football, athletics, horseriding, boccia, wheelchair tennis, powerlifting, swimming and cycling.
For more information or if you would like a copy please email feedback@optua.org.uk or call 01473 836777.
You can also see a taster of the full DVD on you tube by clicking on this link.
Optua and Suffolk Constabulary launch scooter safety leaflet
Suffolk Constabulary and Optua have launched a new guide to using mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs safely in Suffolk. The guide has been put together following concerns that some users in the county are not aware of the safety issues involved in using scooters and powered wheelchairs.
Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs can provide more freedom and independence to many disabled and older people. However, there have been some instances where mobility scooters have been used dangerously or thoughtlessly in pedestrianised areas, on footpaths or on the road. The new guide gives advice and information about the types of mobility vehicle available, where they can be used and how to use them safely and legally whilst out and about.
Linda Hoggarth, Chairman of Optua, said: "Although it may only be a minority of mobility scooter and powered wheelchair users who use them irresponsibly, this is still concerning as they may be putting their own and other people's safety at risk. We have put together this handy guide which we hope will help people make the most of their mobility vehicles and take full account of their responsibilities. We are very pleased to have worked in partnership with Suffolk Constabulary to produce this booklet and thank them for their support."
Road Policing Inspector Zoe Finn said: "Inappropriate use of mobility scooters not only impacts on the individual user, but other road users including pedestrians with the potential for a higher degree of injury due to the nature of the vehicles involved. We have dealt with incidents involving users taking to main roads and dual carriageways, failing to comply with road signs and directions and end up being injured or injuring others in collisions; often due to excess speed. We are backing this new booklet and hope users take on board the advice so that our roads and street remain safe places to walk and drive on."
The guide is available from Optua on 01473 836777 and will be distributed to shobmobility centres, and mobility vehicle retailers throughout Suffolk. It is also available to download here.
Our Showcase Days Receive 2012 Inspire Mark!
Optua is celebrating after our Disability Sport Showcase Days received the official London 2012 Inspire Mark. The Inspire Mark is only given to the most accessible, participative, inspiring and stimulating projects and events which have been inspired by the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. This is the first disability sport project in the region to get an Inspire Mark.
We've run seven Showcase Days across Suffolk with the 8th taking place this Saturday in Ipswich as part of London 2012 Open Weekend. The events have allowed hundreds of people with disabilities to try a huge range of disability and Paralympic Sports. The Showcase Days are part of our
"This is the first disability-sport Inspire project in our region and the Disability Showcase Days demonstrate Optua's great work in increasing and promoting participation in sport and physical activity, whilst strongly contributing to London 2012's vision of inclusivity," said Joseph Ballard, London 2012 Inspire Programmer for the East of England.
Adam Baker, Suffolk Project Manager for the 2012 Games, added: "The award of a London 2012 Inspire Mark is well deserved. Optua has consistently and imaginatively used the inspiration of London 2012 Paralympic Games to encourage more disabled people to become more active and to provide more disability sport opportunities in Suffolk. Their work is helping to create a meaningful legacy for Suffolk from the Games."
Have your say on disability issues in Mid Suffolk
A Mid Suffolk Disability Forum has been set up and we would like to hear from anyone with a learning, physical or sensory disability or mental health issue who is interested in getting involved.
The aim was to set up a group to represent the interests of all disabled people living in the Mid Suffolk area and enable them to talk about the issues they face. It will also provide an opportunity for Mid Suffolk District Council to consult with disabled people on any issues which directly affect them. Anyone with a disability or those representing disability organisations are welcome to take part. The next meeting is on Wednesday 15th December at 10.30am. The venue will be Stowmarket Rugby Club (Chilton Field Social Club).
Anyone interested in the Mid Suffolk Disability Forum or in attending the next meeting can contact Optua on 01473 836777 or email feedback@optua.org.uk. Mid Suffolk District Council may be able to assist with travel arrangements to enable people to attend the forum meetings.
